Withered
1 Kings 13:4 So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!” Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself.
Solomon had been graced by God and became the wisest man that ever lived. He had been blessed beyond measure; but yet had directly disobeyed God and gathered riches for Himself as a result. At the end of His life his many wives even led him into the great sin of idol worship as he began to worship idols and other Gods. God had warned him that if he did these things and did not have a humble repentant heart, that God would destroy the temple and divide Solomon’s kingdom. It all came to pass, and the twelve tribes of Israel split. There were 10 to the North, and 2 in the South. This turbulent time lasted 345 years.
The North’s rulers as a whole lead their divided Israel without Jehovah as their God. They worshiped many idols and their 19 Kings were consistently murdering each other to gain the throne. King Jeroboam committed great sins and is known as the person in the Bible mentioned the most for his evil ways and sin (22 times). In the scripture above he was reaching out to the prophet sent to warn him, when God withered the hand he used to direct. Withered his hand…..wow. Then in an unbelievable act of Grace, restored it. Read 1 KIngs 13 & 14.
The point of all of this is that we are lost without God. Even when we run, or try to hide, or flatly turn against Him; He is still there. We must understand we will have to answer to Him for the lives we live now. We are warned continuously of the consequence of our actions. Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. Turn to God, turn away from sin; turn your heart towards Christ. All of your past sins are washed away in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, and you will gain eternal paradise; not the wrath of God on the sons of disobedience.
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